Pneumatic-despatch tube



(No Model.)

H. CLAY. PNEUMATIC DESPATGH TUBE.

om 9 00 1 Au 2 L p A d 6 t n B t a P .L NE n A 7 mo 0 r 6 n O M N BY I W r WATTORNEY \7 "n4: annals PETERS co, mmaumu" WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

HENRY oLAY, OF EEENwooD, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN SLINGLUFF, OF NORRISTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

PNEUMATIC-DESPATCH TUBE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 603,174, dated April 26, 1898.

Application filed November 17, 1897. serial No. 658,810. (No model.)

provement in Pneumatic-.Despatch Tubes,-

which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanyingdrawings.

a pneumatic despatch tube whose gate. is adapted to be automatically opened by the pressure of air created by the advancing traveler, head, or carrier in said tube and then to be automatically closed after the carrier has passed said gate.

. The invention consists of novel means for directly effecting said opening and closing actions of the gate, and other features are presented, as will be hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of a pneumatic tube embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 represents a partial top or plan view and partial horizontal section on line mm, Fig. 1, on a reduced scale.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a pneumatic tube, and B designates one of the gates therein, said gate having its upper portion fitted in the'guide'O in the chamber or casingD above said tube; I

Pivoted to the'side of the gate to the upper end of which is freely connected one limb of an elbow-lever F, which is mount- 7 ed on an ear F in the chamber D. Supported within said chamber D is a standard G, containing an air-passage H, with which communicates one end of a pipe J, whose other end communicates with the tube A.

Within the chamber D is an air-chamber K, which is supported in thepresent case on the standard G and communicates with the passage or conduit H. V

Telescopically fitted. to the chamber K is the movable'member L, with which is connected the baror rod M, which is freely attached to the adjacent limb of .the lever F, it being noticed that in the present case said is a link A member is hollow and located onsaid chamber K and has its outer end closed.

Aside of the chamber D is a chamber N, which isseparated from said chamber D by the partition P,'which in the present case constitutes a portion of the guide 0 for the gate B. Within said chamber N is a bent leverQ, one limbQ of which is pivoted to a v o link R, the latter being pivotally connected My invention relates to an improvement in with the gate B on the side opposite to the arms E. The other limb Q? of said lever Q occupies a position adjacent to aslot S in the wall of the tube A, below the chamber N, in linewithsaid slot, so as to enter the same, as will be hereinafter more fully explained.

As the carrier that travels in the tube A approaches the gate 13 the air in advance of the same'is forced into the pipe J, passage H, and chamber K, and thus exerts its pressure on the member L and moves the same, whereby the lever F and arm E are operated to raise and open the gate B, the latter entering the chamber D, thus permitting the carrier to pass the same. As the gate rises or moves it operates the lever Q, whereby the limb Q thereof passes through the slot S and enters the tube A in the path of the advancing carrier, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1. When'saidv carrier reaches said limb it engages therewith and raises it, thus closing the gate, it being noticed that the operation of bpening and closing the gate is automatically veffected in either case. As the gate closes it operates the piston and connected parts, causing the seating of the gate in its original position.

As some of the air that follows the carriers may pass through the slot S into the adjacent chamber N, it is prevented from escaping backward owing to the partition P, which closes the rear end of said chamber.

In the chamber K, near the rear end thereof, is a port a, and in the side wall of.the member or element L, near the front end thereof, is a port b, whereby when said member has advanced or moved to the required extent said ports are placed in communication, and thus the airin said chamber may escape to prevent further movement of said member and relieve the same of a cushion that would otherwise interfere with the return motion of said member.

The tube A is provided with branches, as shown in Fig. 2, one of which leads from said tube to an intermediate station and the other branch leads from the latter back to said tube. In such cases the tubeis provided with a switch (not shown) at the intersection of the tube and the first-named branch. It will be understood that a gate is employed in the main tube A beyond the place of intersection of the branch of an intermediate section, so as to direct the fluid or air into said branch. Again in some cases a new source of supply of fluid or air may be required to be admitted into the main tube beyond said gate, so that the latter as closed will prevent such fluid or air from flowing into the tube in the opposite direction to that shown by the arrows, Fig. 1. These provisions admit of the construction of the tube of a pneumatie-despatch system of. an indefinite length having a new supply of fluid or air at intervals, as may be required, the continuity of the main tube, however, being preserved and the same set of carriers serving from end to end of the system, entering the sections consecutively.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A pneumatic-despatch tube having a gate, an air-chamber in direct and unobstructed communication with said tube in advance of said gate, a movable member fitted to said chamber and a connection common to said member and gate whereby the latter may be directly opened by the pressure of the air or fluid intermediate of said gate and the advancing carrier.

2. The combination of a pneumatic-despatch tube, a gate located therein, an airchamber in communication with said tube, a movable element operated by air-pressu re and supported by said chamber, a connection common to said gate and element, means connected with said gate for closing the same, one end of said means being adapted to enter said tube beyond said gate, a chamber located adjacent to the latter and inclosing said airchamber and gate-closing means, and a partition intermediate of the latter and said gate.

3. The combination of a pneumatic-despateh tube, a gate located therein, an element operated by fluid-pressure,means for cond ucting said pressure directly to said element from a point in front of said gate, a connection common to said element and gate whereby the two latter operate in unison and mechanism connected with said gate for closing the same, said mechanism being positively operated by the progression of the carrier beyond said gate.

4. In a pneumatic-despatch tube, a gate and means forautomaticallyopening the same by the air-pressure created by an advancing carrier, the conduit for said air having a direct and unobstructed communication with said tube in combination with mechanism connected to said gate for closing the latter and means for enabling said mechanism to be positively operated by the progression of said carrier beyond said gate.

5. A pneumatic tube having a sliding gate therein, a chamber above said tube, a standard with an air-passage therein, a pipe leading from said tube to said air-passage, an airchamber supported on said standard and in communication with said air-passage, a member movable on said air-chamber, and adapted to close one end thereof, and a lever and link connecting said gate and member.

6. A pneumatic-despatch tube having a gate, an air-chamber communicating with said tube, a member movable 011 said chamber, means connecting the movable member on said chamber and the gate on one side of the latter, means connected with the other side of the gate for closing the same and having one end adapted to enter a slot in said tube in position to be struck by a carrier and a partitioned casing beside said pneumatic tube and in which the operating mechanisms are located.

7. A pneumatic tube having a gate with levers connected therewith on opposite sides, for opening and closing the same, an air-actuated member which is connected with the opening-lever, and an air-chamber and a pipe in communication with said memberand tube, the closing-lever being adapted to enter a slot in said tube, so as to be in the path of the advancing carrier in the tube.

8. In a pneumatic-despatch tube system, a gate in the tube thereof, an air-chamber in communication with said tube, a movable member fitted to said chamber and a connection common to said member and gate, said chamber and member being respectively provided with ports which are adapted to be placed in communication when said member has been sufflciently operated.

9. In a pneumatic-despatch tube system, a main tube having a gate within the same, an air-chamber in direct and unobstructed communication with said tube in advance of said gate, a movable member fitted to said chamber, a connection common to said member and gate, whereby the latter may be directly opened by the pressure of the fluid intermediate of said gate and an advancing carrier, branches connected with said tube on opposite sides of said gate, one of said branches leading to an intermediate station at the end of a section, and the other branch being adapted to be connected with a new source of fluid or air supplying a new section at the beginning thereof, the continuity of said main tube being preserved.

HEN RY CLAY.

Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, E. HAYWARD FAIRBANKS. 

